Claudann Jones Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Claudann Jones Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

We all have stress — at work, at home, and on the road. No one’s life is completely stress-free. It is important to know how to manage the stress in your life. Here are some ways to do that.

Be honest, we all talk to ourselves. Self-talk can be positive or negative. Negative self-talk increases stress. Positive self-talk can help you calm down and control stress. With practice, you can learn to shift negative thoughts to positive ones.

Emergency stress stoppers are actions to help you defuse stress in the moment. Here are a few of my favorite stress stoppers:

— Count to 10 and take a few slow, deep breaths until you feel your body unclench a bit.

— Go for a walk or workout. Exercise is a great antidote for stress.

— Break down big problems into smaller parts. Take one step at a time, instead of trying to tackle everything at once.

Doing things you enjoy is a natural way to relieve stress and find your happy place. Even when you’re down, you may find pleasure in simple things like catching up with a friend or reading a good book.

The key is to find your groove and make it a practice. You’ll be amazed at how quickly you start to feel better.

For more information, contact Claudann Jones, Smith County Extension agent for family and community health at 903-590-2980 or email at cmjones@ag.tamu.edu. Like our Facebook page: Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Smith County.